Manila Bulletin
China reports big rise in coronavirus deaths, WHO sees no 'tip of iceberg'
China's Hubei province reported a record increase in coronavirus deaths and thousands of new infections on Thursday, coinciding with the first reported fatality in Japan.
The surge in China's case count is attributed to a broadened definition that includes diagnoses made via chest imaging, rather than solely laboratory confirmation, according to the WHO.
WHO's Dr. Mike Ryan stated that this large increase in reported cases does not necessarily signify the 'tip of the iceberg' for the outbreak and does not represent a significant change in the outbreak's trajectory.
Japan confirmed its first death from the virus, an elderly woman, bringing the total number of fatalities outside mainland China to three, including previous cases in Hong Kong and the Philippines.
A significant cluster of infections continues to be on the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess off the coast of Japan, with additional cases reported on board.
Authorities in Japan announced that some elderly passengers would be permitted to disembark the cruise ship on Friday.
Outside of the cruise ship, the WHO has not observed a dramatic increase in virus transmission beyond China.
A special WHO team is expected to arrive in China over the weekend to investigate the outbreak's epicenter.
US President Donald Trump commended China's handling of the outbreak, describing it as professional and capable.
However, a White House economic advisor expressed some disappointment with China's transparency regarding the fluctuating case numbers.
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